1. CHAPTER 1 THE MULTICULTURAL JOURNEY TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE

2. Feedback to…
The color of fear Essay A Essay B

3. Emotional Roadblocks to the Path of Cultural Competence
Strong emotions such as
anger, sadness, and defensiveness are displayed when discussing experiences of race, culture, gender, and other sociodemographic variables.

4. Emotional Roadblocks to the Path of Cultural Competence
These feelings can enhance or negate a deeper understanding of the worldviews of culturally diverse clients.
Disturbing feelings serve to protect us from having to examine our own prejudices and biases (Winter, 1977).
Multiculturalism deals with real human experiences, and it would behoove the reader to understand his or her emotional reactions on the journey to cultural competence.

5. Your Personal Reaction?
What were your reactions to reading the narratives of Drs. Kiselica, Clark, and Sue?
Did any of the stories resonate with you or cause you to feel strong emotions?
Can you begin to identify some of your own roadblocks to cultural competence?

6. Common Emotions I FEEL GUILTY: “I could be doing more.”
I FEEL ANGRY: “I don’t like to feel like I’m wrong.”
I FEEL DEFENSIVE: “Why blame me? I do enough already.”

7. Common Emotions I FEEL TURNED OFF: “I have other priorities in life.”
I FEEL HELPLESS: “The problem is too big…what can I do?”
I FEEL AFRAID: “I am going to do something…I don’t know what will happen.”

8. Implications for Clinical Practice
Do not allow your own emotional reactions to negate the stories of the most disempowered in society.
Try to acknowledge your inherited biases openly so that you can listen to your clients in a non defensive way. (activity)
Experiences with people of color will enhance one’s cultural competence.
Explore yourself as a racial/cultural being.
Try to understand what your intense emotions mean for you when they arise.
Do not squelch disagreements.
Take an active role in exploring yourself.